Chapter 254

Thea was not dead. This news was harmless to Max. However, Duncan and Emmalie reacted differently. Their plan having failed, Emmalie's hypocritical expression was unconvincing. She said, "Thea, you've misunderstood us. If you're alive, your family will be overjoyed. How can money and shares be more important than you?" Emmalie reached out to grab Thea's hand, but Thea pushed her away before she could touch her.

Emmalie dramatically fell to the ground. Tears welling, she cried, "Thea, I'm sincerely happy for you. Why are you so hostile? I've never wanted anything from you!"

"Thea, are you crazy?" Ivy exclaimed, helping Emmalie up and glaring at Thea. "Emmalie is frail. How dare you attack her? Do you want to destroy our family's peace?"

Duncan was quicker. He slapped Thea, making her tremble and taste blood. He snarled, "Thea, apologize to Emmalie! Who do you think you are? How dare you touch my sister!" The rest of the Rowland family readily agreed. Duncan repeated, "Apologize to Emmalie immediately."

Thea smiled coldly, feeling not pain, but a bone-chilling coldness. She thought, Am I not your sister?

Before Emmalie's return, she and Duncan had promised Thea, "No matter what, we'll always support you. You're the apple of our eyes." Now, however, Thea was despised. After her near-death experience, Thea no longer cared about their supposed kinship.

Raising her eyes, she slapped Duncan even harder. "Apologize? Impossible! Instead of blaming me, Duncan, ask Emmalie what she did to me. She's so frail, a gust of wind could knock her over; I didn't need to do anything." Her mocking tone obscured the deeper meaning of her words for most, but Emmalie's gaze sharpened.

She thought, Does Thea know something? Impossible! I always used a disguise when interacting with Amelia. No one could recognize me. Thea must be bluffing!

Resuming her sobbing, Emmalie said, "Thea, I know you hate me. You blame me for returning and attracting attention. But I said I'd leave. I only wanted the warmth of kinship. Thea, I won't say anything about what you did to me, but why take it out on Duncan?" Even the stunned Duncan chuckled coldly.

Chapter 254

While not as powerful as Max, Duncan was feared. Even the servants knew better than to trifle with him; when angered, he attacked anyone. Humiliated by Thea in front of Emmalie, he wouldn't let it go. He said, "Thea, I'll teach you a lesson if you don't respect me." He was strong; a slight exertion of force overpowered Thea, pressing her down until her spine bent. He kicked her knees, forcing her to Emmalie. "Apologize," he demanded.

"Duncan, this is excessive. She's still Mrs. Hendrix," Emmalie said, her eyes flashing with excitement. She loved seeing Thea humbled, though she knew this wouldn't break her. She added, "I don't care if Thea apologizes or not. Don't touch her. I don't want Nicolas to hate you."

Duncan retorted, "Hate me? Since Thea is family, she must abide by the Rowland family rules. She needs to be taught a lesson!"

Thea was furious. "If you hadn't been greedy for my assets and attacked me first, would I have retaliated? Duncan, you forgot you signed a contract on behalf of the family, severing my ties with the Rowlands!" She thought, They abandoned me. Why should I care about kinship?

Max stepped forward, his face disapproving. "Thea, those are insensitive words. We share the same blood. Apologize, and this will be over." He tried, as usual, to smooth things over, but no one else sided with Thea. Max only intervened to avoid straining his relationship with Nicolas.

Duncan, less cunning, said, "Thea committed atrocities and should be dealt with according to family law. She pushed Emmalieshe should sign a share transfer contract as medical fees!" Thea thought, What an exorbitant demand!

Ivy and Max approved. Max and Duncan only agreed when scheming against Thea. They ignored that Thea had barely escaped death.

Thea was enraged, but despite being bent over, she resisted. Her pride remained unbroken. She said, "Is she injured, or is she crazy from that fall? Why must I pay such an exorbitant medical fee? I won't give up Grandpa's inheritance!"

Somehow, Thea broke free from Duncan and strode out. Despite the Rowland family's decline, their numerous security guards and servants blocked her path.

Duncan said coldly, "Thea, I'm not negotiating, I'm demanding. If you don't agree, I have many ways to deal with you." His coldness sent chills down her spine. He was not joking.